Lack Of Sleep?

I'm fed up.
Fed up, I tell you.

Life sometimes is so hard and so harsh. Acute lack of sleep is a major setback at the moment, but I'm going to keep ploughing on, and keep myself busy. Not that a lack of things to do is, is a problem. Hmmm.....

As well as organising house music and house elections, my life is being taken up with my personal statement, reading for this personal statement and university choices. Alongside this, I'm worried at the moment. Very worried. I tossed and turned last night and then I burst into tears in my C3 lesson today. In front of the teacher who probably hates me the most. Thankfully, he was particularly gracious about it.

I like to always try and think positive near the end of my blogs, so I will now post the great things about my life, since I last posted:

I went to Downes, in Kent on a year 7 ''Bonding'' trip, about two weeks ago, which resulted in a sleepless but HYSTERICALLY funny overnight stay! Being that age was great, it's a shame that I really didn't appreciate the things that you could get away with saying and doing.

The 'Nothing As Sound As A Brixton Pound' article is going to be featured in the student magazine! I am to inform ''lay people'' about the local economy and the global economy! It's great fun being treated as so knowledgeable, (especially when I am not?!)

I've managed to finish 'The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier' which is a FANTASTIC book. I guess it fed my appetite for something related to the continent of Africa and also development economics considering that once I get a master's degree, I would like to go and work for an NGO. Could also make some very good talking points for my personal statement.

Further Maths is going down a treat! Complex numbers (eg. the square root of -1) has lead to some ''intelligent'' philosophical debates on the abscence of an object. To fuel, my love of maths, I've joined the Cipher Challenge team at school. I will talk about this, possibly, in another post, once it gets under way.

I'm hungry now, so I'm going to end here.



Currently listening to: Undisclosed Desires - Muse

Nothing As Sound As A Brixton Pound

This is only going to be a small post, I think or at least I hope so. But my attention has been drawn to some very interesting news for the local economy. Ok, so it’s not really local but nearby. A 25 minute bus ride, give me that at least?

It seems like Brixton will be getting a boost for its thriving little economy in the way of its own currency.

So why get your own currency? Brixton’s decision seems to be influenced by the success of the Totnes Pound and the Lewes Pound. The Lewes Pound no longer exists as it was only instituted for a short while during the worst of economic downturn but it seems to have worked.

The point of the Brixton pound is to give consumers in the area real value for money. It is hoped that the money will stay within the area instead of falling in to the hands of big chain stores, which spoil the diversity of Brixton’s town centre. Another aim is to create and strengthen loyalty ties and more of a community feel for those who choose to shop independently.

The currency is backed by the Lambeth Savings and Credit Union who provide low interest loans for the local community. They want to push for community banking which is non profit making and in the midst of global credit crisis, surely this is the moral alternative?

I can sit here and probably attempt to decipher some more important reasons behind the decision (maybe add in some juicy political ideas!) but my eyes have been drawn to what the majority of people are much more interested in concerning the Brixton pound. Which famous face should grace each note? My vote lies with Levi Roots. Nothing beats some reggae reggae sauce.

Currently Listening To: Black or White - Michael Jackson

The School Bell Rings

It's that time of year again when WHSmiths try and tell us that we need to buy their 'back-to-school' essentials at extortionate prices, induced by the fact that Woolworths no longer exists to try and defend itself as a useless rival. Alongside this, several supermarkets and M&S also attempt to compete for customers to buy their school uniforms, which however cheap they may be, some of them are hideous. In fact, my school insisted that my uniform was bought from John Lewis. Thank god that I don't wear uniform anymore!

Yes, the bell tolls as the last year EVER of school starts. Apparently, there will be lots of important life-changing decisions to be made. It sounds so ominous to me, almost like the church bells near me ringing out over its creepy graveyard (full of drug-takers, people who are halfway to death rather than buried already). I think I would prefer if they were bells of hope but for those who have failed to plan and henceforth planned to fail - there could be dark times ahead. It is important however to keep the faith and work hard this year, I believe that this 'bell ringing' is similar to the one sounded at the beginning of the final lap of a marathon. Even now we cannot sprint until that final bend. 'Slow and steady wins the race' was something I was taught at the beginning of my school career.

So exciting times ahead for me and about half a million other candidates who will encounter the beauty of UCAS. Lets just hope I escape the experience 'sound as a bell', eh?


Currently Listening To: Fairytale - Alexander Rybak

Lets Get Back To Normal (BPDD)

Yes, thats right folks, I've got a serious dose of BPDD.

Blog Posting Defiency Disorder.

I have missed posting on here for a bit, and for my act of neglect, I apologise. In my defence, I haven't been idly sitting around all day, doing diddly squit.

It's late. In about 8 hours, some lucky people will be getting GCSE results. I was one of them this time last year. Makes you think, doesn't it? My little sister will getting some grades for science, so I probably won't hear the end of it. Anyway I shouldn't take it for granted, good luck to all the GCSE students.

Anyway back to what I've been busy with. Last week, I was interning at Railpen Investments and met my fantastic supervisor, Frank Curtiss. Frank managed to teach me and help me understand (which is a feat in itself!) all he possibly could about his work environment which was absolutely amazing, and as person, I've never met someone more friendly, and personable. We visited all kinds of places, the place I particularly enjoyed was BNY Mellon in Canary Wharf which absolutely great. Of course, the view from the 49th floor was something pretty special! I could harp on about all the jargon I learnt such as equities, class actions, commodities, sub prime mortgages, the UN Principles for Responsible Investment. But I'm going to save it all for a super massive 'How I Spent My Week Interning!' post or at least it shall grace my extended essay on the recession.

Interning and Results Day (which was in some way reassuring, irritating as well as alarming!) has spurred me into action. I will be back at school next week, AND I have to do some serious reading and project research. I have solemnly sworn to Frank to devote my eyes to the pages of the Financial Times, so hopefully I will have some meat to chew on in my future posts. I have also agreed to do some blogging on the econatuni.com website! I will writing reviews on the economics books that I (should) have read over the summer.

I was actually rather tired (today I was not amused as I was again stuck looking at and shifting around vases, serviettes and such - my mum is still on her decorating project!). I was writing this post, but now I've put on some Muse, and I'm slightly alert again, which is brilliant! Maybe now would be a good time to finish the Undercover Economist!



Currently Listening to: Black Holes And Revelations - Muse

Ticking Me Off #2

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. Time for ANOTHER short but sweet rant.

Vases

I think this is a personal thing for me. I've been dragged aimlessly around party stores, home stores and one very interesting junk shop called 'Aladdin's Cave'. I've now come to hate anything looking remotely homely. For hours, I have stared mindlessly at glass and plastic shapes, and been asked repetitively at which angle does the vase look best in. I DON'T CARE! SERIOUSLY! This has made me question what will happen when I decide to get married and I will need to plan the decor for the wedding.

I'm gonna get me that city job and hire a wedding planner. Ah, that's much better.


Currently Listening To: Pocketbook - Jennifer Hudson, African Warrior - Donae'o